Cardiff Met top of the Adran South tree at Christmas after win over Taffs Well

Cardiff Met maintained their place at the top of the Adran South with a dominant 3-0 win over Taffs Well.

Carys Gittins’ first half wonder goal, coupled with second half strikes from Anna Houghton and Scarlett Davies, carried Met to an impressive victory at a very windy Cyncoed.

The result means that Met will be top of the table at Christmas, while Taffs Well slip down to seventh.

Cardiff Met manager Jon Nash elected to make two changes from the side that won away at Carmarthen Town last weekend. Megan Gladwyn and Gracie Howard were replaced by Menna Churcher and Hannah Rayner.

There was just the one alteration from the Taffs Well team that lost to Pure Swansea, with Abby Rose coming in for Lydia Earles.

The Archers topped the table heading into this clash, and they came out of the traps like league leaders. The first chance came very early on; Esme Kilburn-Thompson’s shot taking a deflection off Georgia Brown, with the ball hitting the post as a result. Demi Parry almost converted the follow up, but Chrissy Kidley did well to deny her.

There was nothing Kidley could do, however, to stop the opener from going in after 13 minutes. Picking the ball up from over 30-yards out, Carys Gittins composed herself before picking her spot and finding the top corner. The strong wind at Cyncoed certainly aided her but take nothing away from Gittins’ hit.

In what is their first season in the Adran South, Taffs Well have acclimatised well, but here they were struggling. Met looked sharper and quicker getting to second balls and chasing loose ones, and as a result, they created a number of chances.

Both of their best opportunities fell to Rayner, but her first effort whistled past the post following a deflection. The second came following a poor free kick from Georgia Brown that went straight into her path. With a clear route to goal, Rayner charged into the box, but Kidley came out superbly to make a vital save to keep the deficit down to one at the break.

Three 9s as Wales snap winless run against Switzerland

If one player was determined to score at the start of the second half it was Met midfielder Anna Houghton. Twice in the opening five minutes she went ever so close. One time she hit the crossbar from range, while her second attempt went just wide.

Houghton wasn’t to be put off by these near misses, and it was her who doubled the home side’s advantage six minutes after the restart. The Wellwomen failed to clear their lines from a cross, and that allowed Met’s number seven to stride onto the ball and drive it into the bottom corner.

Sensing a big win may be on the cards, Met set out to try and add more to their tally. Olivia Barnes saw her corner bounce off the crossbar, Gittins’ free kick from distance was allowed to bounce through the Taffs Well defence before smacking against the post, while Kilburn-Thompson’s curling strike from range went just over the bar.

Gracie Howard was the next to go close. Given space in the box, the substitute was allowed to turn before having a shot, but she too could only find the frame of the goal. Kidley’s goal was living a charmed life.

For much of the second half it looked like Met wouldn’t add to their tally, but with seven minutes remaining they found a deserved third goal of the afternoon. Howard’s cushioned ball over the top found the run of Scarlett Davies, who proceeded to dink the ball over the onrushing Kidley.

Both Davies and Molly Chapman had two clear cut opportunities to wrap up the win in style in the final stages of the game, but it mattered not in the end. A comfortable win for the Archers, who will be top of the table at Christmas.

This was both sides’ final game of 2025. They will return on January 18^th to continue their Adran South campaigns. Cardiff Met will be away to Cwmbran Celtic, while Taffs Well welcome Carmarthen Town.

Player of the Match: Anna Houghton

You could easily make a case for Houghton being the best player in the Adran South. The way she reads the game is different to everyone else in this league. Her first touch is sublime, she can pick out a pass to anyone on the pitch, and she has an eye for goal. A tremendous performance from the midfielder.

Cardiff Met

Violet Bell, Menna Churcher (Lydia Witchell 64’), Casey Brant, Olivia Jones, Carys Gittins, Olivia Barnes ©, Anna Houghton, Summer Kilby (Molly Chapman 46’), Esme Kilburn-Thompson (Kennesha Nanette 82’), Hannah Rayner (Scarlett Davies 64’), Demi Parry (Gracie Howard 70’)

Goals: Carys Gittins (13’), Anna Houghton (51’), Scarlett Davies (83’) `

Taffs Well

Chrissy Kidley, Cerys Jones, Tiffany Davies (Hope Williams 55’), Molly Ridge (Molly Hankins 71’), Georgia Brown ©, Scarlett Pickup, Abby Rose, Saskia Wickham, Emily Davies, Alisha Northmore, Keira Allen (Cari Maidment 55’)

(Featured Image: Lewis Mtichell/FAW)